1Norologic Department, School of Medicine
2Nursing Department, School of Nursing, Zahedan University of Medical Science, Zahedan, Iran
4Epidmiology Department, School of Health
5GP Student, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Science, Zahedan, Iran
*Corresponding author: Hanie Dahmardeh, Nursing Department, School of Nursing, Zahedan University of Medical Science, Zahedan, Iran. E-mail: ganjresearch@gmail.com
Online published on 11 April, 2017.
Migraine and tension-type headache are the most common types of headache in all human societies. Previous studies have shown that depression and anxiety are associated with persistence and severity of headache. Therefore, psychological aspects of chronic headaches should be considered in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of these headaches. The frequency of depression and anxiety in patients with chronic headaches was studied in order to offer useful strategies for effective therapies for chronic headaches in this study.
This was a descriptive-analytical study. Eligible individuals were selected using convenience subsequent sampling method. The statistical population consisted of all patients over age of 15 with chronic headache visiting neurology clinic of Ali Ibn Abi Talib Hospital in Zahedan in the first semester of 2015. Data collection tools were the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales—21 (DASS-21) and patients’ records. Information form and DASS-21 were distributed and filled out by the patients with chronic headache who were diagnosed by a neurologist. The completed forms and questionnaires were collected. The collected data was logged into SPSS.
In total, 345 patients were studied among which 94 patients (27.2%) were males and 251 patients (72.8%) were females. Total prevalence of depression was 78.3% (n = 270) and total prevalence of anxiety was 302 patients (87.5%), which represented high rate of depression and anxiety in the patients. The results also showed that such factors as gender, age, education and type of headache are effective in incidence of mood disorders and anxiety in these patients. Accordingly, the prevalence and severity of these disorders were higher in females than males. The prevalence of these disorders increased with age. On the other hand, the prevalence of these disorders reduced with increased education.
Given the high prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with chronic headaches, it is recommended that common treatment methods (for both headaches and mental disorders) be used for treatment of chronic headache. Other prospective studies should examine the effect of these methods in reducing depression and anxiety in the patients.
Depression, anxiety, headache
